YRP members benefit from advanced learning partnership with Schulich ExecEd
The Future of Leadership in Policing program was tailor-made for YRP
A Bright Future Awaits
Driven by the belief that all members have the capacity to be leaders, York Regional Police set out to reimagine leadership development within the organization in 2022.
Through internal focus groups, surveys and an organizational cultural inventory, York Regional Police examined the challenges and barriers that existed with regards to leadership training.
“Previously, individuals only received leadership training once they had achieved a higher rank,” Inspector Chirag Bhatt, one of the senior leaders of the Professionalism, Leadership and Inclusion office at YRP, explained.
In order to bridge the gap, York Regional Police partnered with Schulich ExecEd – an extension of York University’s Schulich School of Business at York University – to create a world-class program for its members.
The program, titled the Future of Leadership in Policing, was tailor-made for YRP, providing participants with a contextually appropriate curriculum, teaching leaders skills and strategies applicable to the complex policing environment.
The instructors were selected from top industry and academic practitioners and are acknowledged leaders and innovators in their fields.
“The Future of Leadership in Policing program is grounded in our organizational values of professionalism, compassion, fairness, courage and respect,” Inspector Bhatt said.
The program consists of five streams: Personal Leadership, Developing Leadership, Engaging Leadership, Visionary Leadership and Executive Leadership. It is geared towards enhancing members’ skills in their current roles, while also maximizing their potential for growth.
“THE FLIP PROGRAM IS GROUNDED IN OUR ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES OF PROFESSIONALISM, COMPASSION, FAIRNESS, COURAGE AND RESPECT.“
INSPECTOR CHIRAG BHATT, PROFESSIONALISM, LEADERSHIP AND INCLUSION OFFICE
“The program reflects a hire-to-retire approach,” Inspector Bhatt explained. “
The Future of Leadership in Policing program was also built with equity in mind – putting sworn and civilian police professionals in the same cohorts to share ideas, build relationships and problem solve together.
A total of 138 YRP members successfully completed the program in 2023.
“The instructors have practical experience in business and academic credentials that are world class,” Superintendent Wallace Gossen said. “Engaging with these instructors while discussing timely topics with your peers is an opportunity that current and future leaders should not miss.”
“THE INSTRUCTORS HAVE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS THAT ARE WORLD CLASS.”
SUPERINTENDENT WALLACE GOSSEN, OPERATIONAL COMMAND
Tamara Dinelle, Director of Marketing, Communications and Brand at York Regional Police also took part in the Executive Leadership program in 2023.
“Given that I was new to policing, in a leadership role and would be managing significant change through my mandate, the program was customized to cover issues we are currently facing, including the complexities of policing and organizational structures and processes,” Dinelle said.
“The training focused on developing soft skills like problem solving, analytical thinking, critical thinking, communication, active listening and relationship management – which was all applicable to our work,” she added.
Currently, 59 members are participating in the 2024 Personal and Developing leadership streams and three additional streams are set to be held in the fall of 2024.
